WRW

Monday, July 30, 2012

If the first day of the work week were riding on the wheel plate of a linear actuator, what's your guess on the actuation type? Monday sneaks up so quickly and quietly no matter the weekend debris! But just as the day arrives so quickly, it zips away in a flash.

How do you get up to speed every Monday? Among many online resources, we like forums! Do you have a favorite? Let's share — we'll go first! Here's five our favorites:

Jerald Garcia, 26, landed his first engineering job at Bishop-Wisecarver Corporation straight out of college four years ago. Here he cut his teeth in mechanical engineering as a test engineer of linear and rotary motion products, testing our products to be sure the technology lives up to our high quality standards. He's been an invaluable asset to our company, a part of the family.

That's why it's bittersweet to announce that he's taking off on the adventure of a lifetime. We are proud to share that he has landed his dream job as a quality engineer at Boeing. The whole team will miss him, but we're proud to have been a big part of helping him achieve such great success!

Jerald said he's always wanted to work in the aeronautics industry, so he's thrilled about the opportunity, which will bring him to his new home in St. Louis, Missouri. This will be the Daly City native's first time living outside of California, a prospect he says is both exciting and scary.

"I've always had a passion for flight," he said. "For me it's kind of amazing that you can lift several hundred tons of people, metal and liquids into the sky with nothing but air beneath. To me that's like magic."

He joined Bishop-Wisecarver shortly after responding to a job post on the university's job board. Through his work here, Jerald learned about the internal workings of a business and the ins and outs of guided motion technology.

"I learned a lot about how a company is run," he told us. "And before this job, I didn't know much about linear motion. It has taught me a lot about how business works and manufacturing in general."

BWC President Pamela Kan said she's happy for Jerald, and that she'll miss him.

Jerald said he can only imagine how much he'll learn in an industry that has seen several groundbreaking innovations recently. Jerald said he's geeked out about the headline-making Boeing 787 'Dreamliner' which happens to be the company's most fuel-efficient airliner and the world's first-ever jetliner to use mostly composite materials in its construction.

"I believe that composites are the future of flight," Jerald said. "It's the direction that most companies are going to start to head towards."

Besides the "magic" of flight that first captivated Jerald and the exponential technological advances in the field, Jerald said he's fascinated by how airplanes have changed our global culture.

"Flight is shrinking the world, which is a good thing," he said.

A good thing for him personally, too, since it will allow his family to visit him in his new home halfway across the country. From all of us here at Bishop-Wisecarver, Jerald, "Good flight and good luck!"

Friday, July 27, 2012

Our week was punctuated by celebrations, welcomes and farewells. We said good-bye to one of our engineers, who, we're proud to say, landed his dream job as an engineer at Boeing, and we welcomed new members to both our sales force and IT department. We also made new connections at a conference for women business owners in San Francisco, which we'll post about next week. So much excitement for this linear and rotary guide manufacturer! In between it all, we kept in touch with the world on Twitter. Here's a small taste of some things that caught our interest on Twitter since Monday. Follow our adventures next week at @BWCnews!

2. Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice in the B2B Industrial Spaceon the BWC blog: Bishop-Wisecarver President Pamela Kan was interviewed by a South African online 'zine! The featured profile looked at her role as a woman in the male-dominated world of manufacturing, what personally motivates her and what she loves most about her job. Good read!

3. WBENC President's Reporton WBENC.org: Since we're a Women's Business Enterprise National Council-certified woman-owned business, we subscribe to the nonprofit's monthly reports. Here's the latest update — lots of interesting articles about other WBENC members, industry news and some info about how to get the most out of a WBENC certification.

4. California Job Growth Leads the Nation, Though SF Still Struggleson HuffPo: New employment figures show that the Golden State added 38,000 more jobs in June — basically half the job growth in the nation during that time. But the City by the Bay lagged. The types of businesses adding the most work, by the last count, include those in the tech and professional sectors. I know were busy hiring here in the East Bay!

5. Sally Ride Remembered as National Heroon WhiteHouse.gov: Sally Ride, the first American woman to travel into space, passed away this week. The Twittersphere lit up with condolences, respects and memories of the national hero, including this though posted on the White House website shared by President Obama.

6. 'The League of Extraordinary Women'on Fast Company: Whether they're leaders in technology, healthcare, entrepreneurship, media or human rights, these woman have an extraordinary drive in common, according to the magazine, which lauded them with a mention on this list. Who among the women named do you draw inspiration from?

7. The Creative Personalityon Psychology Today: What does it mean to be a creative personality? This article explains how it's a seeming contradiction of traits — extroversion and introversion, hyperactivity and deep thought. From artists to engineers, does this in any way describe your mentality?

8. Women in Manufacturing STEP Awards from the Manufacturing Institute: Speaking of extraordinary women, the Manufacturing Institute is accepting nominations for an award that honors women who have contributed to the advancement of science, technology, engineering or production. Nominations are due by Tuesday, July 31. Who did you nominate?

9. Companies Bringing Back Jobs to the U.S.on the Charlotte Observer: Throughout the past 28 months, more than 500,000 manufacturing jobs have been added to the United States' workforce, according to this article. That's the strongest job growth in the sector since the 1990s, it continues. That's counting jobs in semiconductor manufacturing, aerospace and energy. As the column reads, "...made in America means quality workmanship."

10. Bishop-Wisecarver Recertified as Woman-Owned Manufacturervia the Woodworking Network: Thanks to the good folks at the Woodworking Network for sharing this exciting news. We worked really hard to prove that we're a bona fide woman-owned manufacturer of guided motion components, slides and systems. It's an honor to be part of a network like WBENC that promotes women leaders and presents them with opportunities to diversify the industry.

THE MAGAZINE [ VIEW ]Spice 4 Life is a South African online magazine that serves to inspire and empower women all over the globe in hopes of helping them reach their target audiences, build stronger connections, and fulfill their individual goals. The digital publication is also active in carrying out socially responsible initiatives.THE FEATURE [ VIEW ] The article delves into Pamela's daily life, her goals for the future, and her favorite parts of working in the engineering and manufacturing B2B space. The post also includes her favorite quotes, top travel tips for touring the San Francisco Bay Area, secrets for success and much more.

Monday, July 23, 2012

The day is almost over here on the West Coast, and we're thinking it's time for a little fun! With all the trade show planning for IWF in August and Pack Expo in October, our minds are feeling a bit mixed up — wait, how about a word scramble? Unwind with us by tackling these five word challenges, and the first five people to send us the answers via email to jenniferw@bwc.com will win some BWC swag. Good luck!

Friday, July 20, 2012

Happy Friday! Eleanor here with our favorite tweets from this busy week. It has been an important few days for our president as she has not only become Chairman of CMTA, but our company has also become WBENC certified for the second year in a row! Among all the exciting goings-on recently, we have still managed to find some fascinating articles and videos that will hopefully pique your interest on this sunny Friday. Read up before you start your weekend. Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter for more information on Bishop-Wisecarver and other awesome news!

2. The Geek Manifesto on YouTube: A fascinating video on how science impacts our lives in many different ways and why geeks everywhere should promote it. Let the geeks and science lovers of the world unite!

3. Wind as an Alternative to Fuel? on popsci.com: Those of you fascinated by alternative fuel sources may be interested to know that a wind-powered car has been manufactured that can actually travel at twice the speed of the wind. Don't believe it? Check out this article and a picture of the vehicle
to discover more about this innovative invention!

Credit: Popsci.com

4.The End of Dry Cleaning? on treehugger.com: This caught out attention because we know a lot about working on application challenges with harsh debris ... white shirts don't stand a chance! Or maybe now they do?

5. Where Children Sleep via nytimes.com: This informative and heart wrenching photo essay depicts the harsh reality of the income gap that exists between the world's rich and poor. From children who sleep in four poster beds in pink havens to families sleeping on mattresses on the side of the road, this blog will reveal the disparity between the global north and south and the cultural divides that still exist despite globalization.

6) Cars that Provide All Day Caffeination on treehugger.com: Finally, a car manufacturer that has solved the problem of having to line up at a coffee shop every morning for your daily fix of caffeine. Fiat is now offering a built-in espresso machine in its new 500L model. No more morning coffee runs for you! Your caffeine fix can now occur in the comfort of your own vehicle and as many times a day as you desire!

Credit: Treehugger.com

7. Horse Lameness Detection on sensortips.com: A University of Missouri professor of Equine Surgery has created a horse lameness detector that removes the potential for error that occurs in human detection. The technology utilizes Bluetooth technology to analyse the degree of lameness. Read the article to learn more!

8. The Future of Running on BBC Future: With the Olympics coming up next month, the BBC has been featuring stories that detail the amazing feats of human strength the olympics athletes are achieving or have the potential to achieve in the future — as a manufacturer of linear and rotary guides, we're all about motion without limits! One of these incredible stories details the potential for certain athletes to run 100 meters in under 9 seconds. It may seem impossible, but a few runners are coming awfully close to reaching this goal. Read the article to see how we all have the potential to experience motion without limits!

9. BWC President New Chairman of CMTA on Constant Contact: It has been a busy few weeks for our President as she has not only achieved a second WBENC certification, but is also now the Chairman of the California Manufacturers and Technology Association. Read up on this other fantastic achievement.

10. The Return of Manufacturing to the USA! on bcg.com: The Boston Consulting Group has recently published a press release that declares that millions of jobs could return to the U.S. from China in the face of rising exports. Rising costs in China and the American drive to compete in the international arena are also resonsible for this trend. Read this press release to get greater insight into the USA's efforts to decrease its trade deficit with China.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Dennis is the latest addition to the Bishop-Wisecarver sales team, joining the company this summer with more than a decade of experience in the field of linear and rotary guided motion technologies. The Illinois resident will represent the Midwest, from the Canadian border to the north to Kansas and Montana to the south. If you're in his territory and need an expert on linear slides, guides and rotary motion systems, Dennis is your expert! Have some questions of your own? Leave him a comment, or just drop him a congratulatory note — he can be reached at dennism@bwc.com.

Question: Tell
us a about your background, your education and what you like most about being on the Bishop-Wisecarver team?

Answer: I was raised in a small farming
community in central Illinois and moved to the Chicago area upon entering
high school.I attended North Central College in
Naperville, IL, on an athletic grant.I
have been involved in the world of linear motion for more than a decade.I started at Bishop-Wisecarver on July 16, 2012, and I think the main thing that drew me to the company was the family atmosphere, the idea that opinions and input are valued and
encouraged, and that every employee here has amazing qualifications and
backgrounds.

Question: What do you like about sales?

Answer: The opportunity to meet a
wide variety of people from all walks of life and the chance to help them with
the challenges they face in their particular environments. There is also an aspect of the “thrill of the
hunt” that appeals to my competitive nature.

Question: What
do you enjoy most about working with engineers?

Answer:Learning. I enjoy working with engineers because, by and large, I think engineers are people with vision. To have the ability to take an idea or a concept that someone has and actually create something three-dimensional and operational is a gift which I envy. I put engineers in the same class as artists — people who make the world a bit more comfortable to live in. I also learn something every time I speak with an engineer, which I enjoy as well.

Question: What
challenges arise from selling a product based on features and benefits?

Answer:For me, the challenge
always lies in how you can separate yourself from the rest of the field
using the features and benefits of the product you are selling.

Question: What
makes for a good selling relationship with a customer?

Answer: Many things … relating to the person you are talking to, no matter what position they hold, ability to
not only hear but truly listen, identifying needs and determining whether you
are able to meet them or not, and above all honesty and integrity in all of
your interactions. Trust is the key to
any good relationship.

Question: If
sales were a team sport, what would it be and why?

Answer: I think I would have to go with
football. Many different components,
each with their own skill set, but to be successful each must work cohesively,
and again, trust each other to do what they do best for the common goal … whether
it’s touchdowns or purchase orders!

Question: Speaking
of sports, what’s your favorite team or teams?

Answer: Easiest question on the list — Chicago
Bears.

Question: What
do you like to do outside work?

Answer: Anything with my wife and two
kids … I coach many youth sports teams and am involved in community and school
affairs … anything with sand that is surrounded by sea or ocean is a good thing.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

It's that time of the week for another glimpse of what we here at BWC think is the most fun, interesting and informative videos, articles and podcasts posted recently. As always, your linear and rotary guide manufacturers are happy to provide you with the latest and greatest news in science, technology, engineering and manufacturing. We offer technologies that are used in so many industries, and it's exciting for us to see the future of how our linear guides could be used! Take a load off and spice up your Wednseday by viewing these picks of the week!

[ WATCH ] A fantastic video series that features some really cool innovations. From instant pizza to robot chat apps, you are not going to be able to take your eyes off these mind blowing products, designs and animations.

[ READ ] This article provides some interesting data on how many Americans actually support the "Buy America" policies. Read this article to learn more about this important topic!

[ LISTEN ] Here are some short, interesting podcasts on how to improve the world we live in. From creating edible books to adopting elders, learn how to improve the quality of life of yourself and billions of others.

[ DO ] Have you ever wondered what it would be like to vacation in space? Taking a family trip to the outer regions of the universe will be a possibility in the near future — can you believe it? A Russian company is planning to build ''cosmic hotels'' big enough for the whole family. While it will be no cheap holiday, it could be life changing.

Monday, July 16, 2012

SECOND CERTIFICATION In June, Bishop-Wisecarver celebrated another milestone by becoming a certified woman-owned business for the second year running. Pamela Kan, the company's president, first achieved the certification last year from the Women's Business Enterprise National Council.

The manufacturer of linear and rotary guided motion technologies earned its first WBENC certification in 2011. Bishop-Wisecarver President Pamela Kan is the second-generation family member at the helm of the Bay Area-based business — her father Bud Wisecarver opened his first machine shop more than 60 years ago and is the original inventor DualVee Motion Technology® (guide wheels and track).

“Being WBENC certified gives us a leg up in the marketplace because the organization is one of the leading advocates for and authorities on woman-owned businesses as suppliers to corporations,” Kan told us.

Bishop-Wisecarver President Pamela Kan

A WOMAN'S WORLD Kan attended the organization’s June National Conference and Business Fair in Orlando, FL, where she networked with other WBENC members. The network of woman-owned businesses was so impressive, that Kan said she plans to go to the next major WBENC event as a vendor — and to next year’s national conference as well.

Our next WBENC event, however, comes a lot sooner than that! We'll be exhibiting at the Sept. 13 Astra's Matchmaker & Expo in Seattle, WA, to team up with other woman-owner business entities and explore more about what WBENC has to offer and where we fit in as a woman-owned manufacturer — a rarity in the industry.

THE CHALLENGE To mix it up a little, we created a jigsaw for you to finish. Once you do, let us know and we'll send you some free BWC swag for your efforts! Got a question? Email us at jenniferw@bwc.com. We're here to help! View the[ PUZZLE HERE ]Pst! Works with the most updated version of JAVA.

Friday, July 13, 2012

Happy Friday the 13th! Eleanor here, writing this week's tweets-of-the-week update. I know it has been an exciting and hectic week for all of you celebrating the middle of summer and hearkening the start of the second half of 2012! Since we skipped the Friday following Fourth of July, we'll include some of that week's notable tweets, too. Don't want you to miss out! Also, be sure to follow us for real-time updates at @BWCnews!

Credit: BWC

1. Motion Monday — Sparks Fly! on bwcnews.blogspot.com: Learn more about the importance of ring bearings and which types lead to greatest efficiency when applied to the measurement of Cathode Ray Tube — commonly called CRT. Do the crossword and win a prize as well ... a double win!

2.Making Manufacturing Kid-Friendly on Manufacturing Executive: A great article detailing how states and schools can improve STEM initiatives to make science, technology, engineering and manufacturing more appealing to kids. Robot competitions and science fairs were suggested … sounds good to me!

4. A Wooden Wonder Ride on nytimes.com: Ever wondered what magical things occur in the town of Santa Claus, Indiana? Well, a fantastic new wooden roller coaster called the Voyage in Holiday World theme park is going to make every kid and adult who goes on it feel like it is Christmas Day. This extremely fast wooden coaster travels up to speeds of 70 miles an hour and makes its riders lift off from the seats. If you’ve got your wits about you give the engineering marvel a try!

5. Recyclable Basketball Arenas on businessinsider.com: A new basketball arena that can house 12,000 people has been built for the London Olympics. There are hopes that this sustainable venue will prompt future Olympic hosts to construct sustainable Olympic villages that can be recycled after use. What’s next… recyclable houses?

6. ‘God Particle’ Found on Yahoo News: It was a big week for scientists as they discovered evidence that the Higgs Boson Particle did lead to the creation of the universe as we know it. Read the article to learn more details about this important discovery.

7. Detroit the new Venice? on Grist: This week one of Detroit’s freeways was flooded with water. While this may make the city resemble a bit more the regal and beautiful Venice, this occurrence points to the fact that the city is contending with some major infrastructure problems.

8. No more Embarrassing Touch Screen Fumbles! via NewScientist: Ever accidentally pressed a button on your touchscreen device that led to major texting, gaming or email disasters?! Well, say goodbye to these red face making mistakes because Nokia researchers have created software that can distinguish between intentional and unintentional taps.

10. Glasses that can Outsource our Memories On BBC Future: Thanks to Google, we can all now wear goggles that capture footage of all activities of which we want to make memories. From skydiving to throwing a family member a birthday party, all of these events can be made quick and wonderful memories with Google’s new innovation. Read more about it!

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

We know last week was a busy one for everyone, what with barbeques and firework displays. However, we managed to find some great articles, videos and podcasts that detail some pretty interesting events and discoveries that you may have missed last week due to Fourth of July celebrations. Enjoy catching up on some exciting news from your linear slides, guides and rotary motion components manufacturer!

[ WATCH ]Here’s a good video detailing the major features and effects of the newly discovered Higgs Boson particle. It is a great watch for those of us who don’t have PHDs in science and appreciate explanations that include cool animations! Enjoy!

[ READ ]A great article detailing how states and schools can improve STEM initiatives to make science, technology, engineering and manufacturing more appealing to kids. Robot competitions and Science Fairs were suggested … exciting stuff!

[ LISTEN ]London is attempting to host the most environmentally friendly olympics to date. Listen to this podcast to learn more about this exciting initiative.

[ DO ]Ever wondered what kind of magical things occur in the town of Santa Claus, Indiana? Well, a fantastic new wooden roller coaster called the Voyage in Holiday World theme park is going to make every kid and adult who rides this thrilling coaster feel like it’s Christmas Day. This extremely fast wooden coaster travels up to speeds of 70 mph. If you've got your wits about you, give this engineering marvel a try!

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

We're still riding high on the excitement of Independence Day, with all its explosions in the sky and other festive firecrackers. To keep the sparks flying, we'll make this week's #MotionMonday challenge fiery, too, but spotlighting an welding application that's set in motion with our linear bearings and matching track.

CHALLENGE Welding heads on most machines need to be easily removed to service and maintain them. In this specific case, the linear motion parts on this machine needed to be strong enough to support loads of up to 150 pounds. They needed to travel at about a quarter-inch per second and withstand an extremely harsh environment contaminated by alloy steel weld splatter.

APPLICATION The customer who used our linear bearings and track designs and builds special machines that get used in refurbishing boilers in power generation, chemical, pulp and paper mills. These machines are placed inside large boilers, which lay down rows of weld bead onto the boiler wall, building up the wall thickness. They are various applications for rack and gear driven weld torches with wire feeders.

SOLUTIONDualVee Linear Guide Wheels allowed for quick removal and will last much longer than comparable Bishop-Wisecarver’s stainless steel version was used for enhanced corrosion resistance.

PRODUCTS USED This manufacturer chose our stainless steel DualVee wheels with matching track to guide the welding heads. DualVees come in six sizes and get mounted with our own journals and bushings.

YOUR CHALLENGE From that little application spotlight, we've picked up some keywords and turned them into a word search. The first handful of people to complete it correctly and send the answers back to us get some free BWC swag. Need an answer key? Email us at jenniferw@bwc.com. Have fun!

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

CHALLENGE Beta Instruments — an electronics, mechatronics and robotics manufacturer — needed a large ring bearing, and was unimpressed with the high cost and implementation difficulty of standard slewing type ring bearings. The application requirements demanded that the ring exhibit smooth motion and have an integrated gear drive.
APPLICATION This measuring device uses state-of-the-art electronics and custom-designed computer programs to provide the fast and accurate measurement of Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) screen features, either automated or manual.SOLUTION A standard ring offers extremely smooth motion without the integration headaches most ring bearings cause. Only six drilled and tapped holes are required for mounting. The ring comes with external gear teeth as a standard option.

PRODUCTS USED Hepcomotion's R76-1033-R360-P, BHJ-54-C and BHJ-54-E
YOUR CHALLENGE Now take a gander at [ this quick lil' crossword ] we cobbled together for a shot at winning some super spiffy BWC swag! Still need help? Shoot an email to us at jenniferw@bwc.com for an answer key. Best of luck!

ABOUT

With 60+ years of engineering expertise and manufacturing best practices working with over 20,000 customers, we understand our customers’ design and application requirements which enables us to develop unique solutions that typically ship within 2 to 3 weeks.

Customers achieve 50% faster time to market, up to 50-75% lower maintenance and installed costs, product differentiation, and longer product life.